Protective Canopy Systems and Associated Methods of Installing and Taking Down

ABSTRACT

A protective canopy system that may cover vehicles and other types of inventory stored outside is disclosed, and that protects against damage that would otherwise occur from hailstorms or other severe weather is disclosed. The system may include a screen or canopy that is positioned over the inventory by a support system that may include columns.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.63/121,874, filed Dec. 5, 2020, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The current invention generally relates to protective canopies andsystems to protect items that are stored outside from the elements, suchas hail, rain, sun, snow and/or other weather elements. The currentinvention includes canopies that protect inventory, such as cars,trucks, recreational vehicles and other vehicles, or any other type ofinventory that may be located or stored outside and that may otherwisebe fully exposed to the elements. The current invention also includescanopies that protect individuals or groups of people.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many car dealerships store significant inventory outside, andoftentimes, this inventory comprises fleets of cars and trucks parked inlarge parking lots. Such inventory has typically been stored outsidebecause it would be commercially impractical to build warehouses havinga sufficiently large area to house fleets of vehicles. However, whenfleets of vehicles are stored outside, they are exposed to the elements,such as hail, rain, sun and wind, which may cause damage to thevehicles. Vehicles stored outside may also be more susceptible tovandalism or theft. The foregoing also applies to rental car companieswhich maintain an inventory of rental vehicles outside. The foregoingalso applies to recreational vehicles, boats, planes, motorcycles, ATVs,UTVs, farm machinery or any other items or inventory that may be storedoutside.

The damage caused by, for example, a severe hailstorm can result in asignificant financial burden. Indeed, hail damage to a fleet of severalhundred vehicles can cost in the tens of thousands, hundreds ofthousands or millions of dollars. And while insurance may cover some orall of this damage, the insurance itself may be a significant expense.Furthermore, recent weather patterns indicate that hailstorms, and otherextreme weather conditions are occurring more frequently and areincreasingly more severe and destructive.

For example, in 2019 there were 5,392 major hailstorms (hailstones oneinch or more in diameter) in the U.S. Texas topped the list with 872damaging hailstorms. Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Colorado roundedout the top five states by number of major hail events. Beyond theforegoing, other states in the “hail alley” region of the United Statesare susceptible to hailstorms (as are certain areas in foreigncountries).

Vehicles damaged by severe weather also expose the owner to skyrocketinginsurance premiums. Indeed, after paying out billions of dollars oflosses from hailstorms in the past few years, many insurance carriershave left the market and the rest are exponentially raising theirinsurance premiums.

Beyond the foregoing, vehicles parked at a residence e.g., in adriveway, are also susceptible to hail damage or damage from otherweather elements. There have been fitted car covers that are reinforcedor bulky that may be put on a car in anticipation of a hailstorm.However, such car covers have the drawback that they must be put onbefore hail starts falling, and this may be difficult because hailstormsmay occur without much, if any, advance warning.

Beyond the foregoing, hailstorms and other severe weather may adverselyimpact events where people gather, such as family functions, sportingevents or other gatherings. And where a hailstorm may occur withoutwarning, if there is no building or other structure in which the peoplemay take refuge, they may be exposed to hail stones which can causeinjury.

Accordingly, there is a need for protective canopy system that helpsprotect fleets of vehicles, or any other items or inventory storedoutside, from severe hailstorms and other weather elements, e.g., tomitigate damage caused by severe hailstorms. There is also a need toprotect an individual's vehicle parked at home, or to protect any otheritem that may be stored outside. Beyond vehicles, this need extends toany other items or inventory that may be stored outside and exposed todamaging weather. There is also a need to provide protection againsthailstorms for individuals or people that may be gathered outside. Thereis also a need to install protective systems and/or take them down thatis efficient and not cost prohibitive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention addresses the above-noted and other shortcomingsby the various inventive aspects described herein. The current inventionis described in the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments,as well as in the claims, appearing later. The following Summary of theInvention describes aspects of the current invention.

An aspect of the current invention is an innovative weather-protectionsolution that provides protection to vehicles or other inventory locatedoutside; and that provides an optimal return on investment and lowersinsurance costs. In this manner, the protective system of the currentinvention protects inventory from more than just hailstorms; it alsoprevents the chaos and business interruption that may otherwise occurwhen inventory is damaged and needs repair.

The current invention is more than hail mitigation; it is alsoprotection from catastrophic hail damage and the rising costs of lotcoverage insurance. To this end, an aspect of the current inventionregards an innovative design, installation and removal process.

Another aspect of the current invention involves the fact that itscomponents result in a cost-effective system that avoids expense anddesign complexity that may be found in existing systems. To this end,the protective system of the current invention preferably uses fewercomponent parts that allow for the system to be readily installed andresults in a less intrusive system in relation to the parking lot orother location in which it is installed.

Another aspect of the current invention regards a screen or meshmaterial and canopy system that may form the protective canopy. It ispreferred that the screen or mesh material prevents many hailstones fromimpacting the inventory below, and is also fire resistant and exhibitssufficient tensile strength.

Another aspect of the current invention regards a support system forsupporting the canopy system. The support system may comprise a numberof pole or column assemblies that are designed to support the weight ofthe canopy system, as well as to withstand forces created by wind, hailand certain amounts of snow. It is preferred that relatively few supportcolumns be used to simplify the system and to be less obtrusive to theparking lot or other location at which the system is installed.

Another aspect of the current invention involves the manner in which theprotective system may be readily installed or set up, and laterdisassembled or taken down. The screen and support systems preferablyinclude components that allow the screen to be readily installed andtaken down. For example, the screen or sections of the screen mayinclude a webbing around its perimeter with loops that accommodatequick-click type fasteners, e.g., carabiners. The quick-click fastenersmay engage cables, and the cable ends may engage turnbuckles and/orshackles that are attached to columns and that allow tightening of thecables to raise the screen to the desired level. These components may bereadily disassembled when taking down the protective system, e.g., inwintertime when the risk of damaging hailstorm decreases and the risk ofsignificant snow accumulation increases.

Another aspect of the current invention regards an embodiment that maybe used to protect an individual's vehicle parked at home, e.g., in adriveway, from hailstorms or other severe weather. In this aspect, thecurrent invention may also be used to protect other items (or people)located outside of a residence or other location.

Another aspect of the current invention regards an embodiment that maybe used to protect gatherings of people from hailstorms or other severeweather.

Other aspects of the invention are described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the currentinvention described herein may be more fully appreciated when consideredin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals designate the same or similar components.

FIG. 1 shows a hailstorm impacting a vehicle.

FIG. 1A shows hailstones.

FIGS. 2-7 show different views of a protective system.

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a protective system over a parking lot.

FIGS. 8A-8D show sections of screens and support column locations.

FIGS. 9-12 show components of a protective system, including a canopy orscreen system and a support system.

FIGS. 13-14 show the manner in which the screen system may attach tocolumns or poles of the support system.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a support system.

FIG. 15A is a plan view of a support system for a protective subsystemand FIG. 15A′ is a section view of a column.

FIG. 15B is a plan view of a support system for a protective subsystemand FIG. 15B′ is a section view of a column.

FIG. 15C is a plan view of a protective subsystem and FIG. 15C′ is asection view of a column.

FIG. 15D is a plan view of a protective subsystem and FIG. 15D′ is asection view of a column.

FIG. 16 shows a top portion of a support column or pole.

FIG. 17 shows a protective system extending from a building orstructure.

FIG. 18 shows a protective system installed at a residential driveway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The protective, canopy or screen system 10 of the current invention isnow described with reference to the figures, where similar componentsare identified with the same or similar reference numerals in thevarious figures. Protective, canopy or screen system 10 generallyprotects inventory, such as vehicle(s) 20, that are stored outside andthat are exposed to different types of weather that may cause damage,such as hailstorms. However, it should be noted that the scope of thecurrent invention is not limited to the protection of vehicles. Instead,the scope extends to the protection of any item or inventory that may belocated or stored outside; the scope also extends to the protection ofindividuals or groups of people who may be located outside. As such,this the specification may, at times, focus on the protection ofvehicles, the scope of the invention extends to anything or anyonelocated outside.

For example, FIG. 1 shows vehicle 20 being struck by hailstones 30. Inthe case of a hailstorm, system 10 prevents hailstones 30 from impactingand damaging vehicle 30, or at least reduces the number of such impactsand resulting damage.

As shown in FIGS. 2-7, system 10, such as the HAIL NO™ protective,canopy or screen system, may cover or otherwise help protect one or morevehicles 20, e.g., a fleet of cars and/or trucks, that are storedoutside in parking lot 22. Protective system 10 protects vehicles 20from weather elements that may cause damage, e.g., hailstorms. As such,system 10 avoids the need to erect buildings or other expensivestructures to protect inventory 20.

It should be noted that system 10 may be used to protect other types ofinventory or items stored outside and susceptible to weather damage. Assuch, while this specification describes the protection of vehicles, thescope of the current invention is not limited to protecting justvehicles, and includes any items or inventory that are stored outside,e.g., any item that may ultimately be used outside by the end consumer.

Protective system 10 is preferably removable fixed canopy designssuitable for regions of the world that receive an average annualsnowfall of less than 12 inches. For a cold weather climate such asColorado, which receives significant snowfall during the winter months,a removable design is preferable to prevent overloading the canopypanels with snow accumulation.

In general, canopy system 10 may be positioned over vehicles 20 that arestored outside. The overall dimensions of canopy system 10 may varydepending on the number and location of vehicles to be protected. Canopysystem 10 may be secured on the ground 40, which may comprise a parkinglot 22, field or other type of surface. The overall dimensions of system10 may vary significantly from several feet, to tens of feet, tohundreds of feet or to thousands of feet; or to acres of area.

For example, one or more systems 10 may be used to cover acres ofparking lot 22 space, thereby protecting tens or hundreds or morevehicles. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, protective system 10 mayinclude protective subsystems 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, which may cumulativelycover and protect a significantly sized parking lot 22, and which mayserve as a protective system 10 in their own right. Each protectivesystem 10A-D may comprise different shapes, though it is preferred thatthe shape of the subsystems may be achieved with square sections. Theshapes of the subsystems may be designed to accommodate the shape ofparking lot 22 and the layout of parking stalls therein, and to alsoprovide alleys 24 between sections 10A-D so that vehicles may readilypass through.

Each of protective systems 10A-D are shown in FIGS. 8A-D, respectively.As shown, each protective system may comprise one or more screensections 110 connected together. (The manner in which sections 110 maybe connected is described in more detail below.) For example, protectivesystem 10A may comprise six sections 110 arranged in a three by twoconfiguration. Sections 110 may be square though they may also comprisedifferent shapes, such as rectangles and other shapes involving anglededges. However, as described in more detail later, an aspect of thecurrent invention is the calculation of stresses throughout screensections 110 through a finite element analysis, and the uniformity ofsquare sections 110 may be preferred because of the square's symmetryand resulting simplification of the finite element analysis. Squarescreen sections or panels may also lower cost.

As shown, screen sections 110 may be connected to columns 210, which mayinclude corner columns 212, edge columns 214 and interior or middlecolumns 216. Columns 210 are preferably embedded in the ground 40 asdescribed in more detail later. Another aspect of the current inventionis structural analysis performed so that columns or poles 210 maywithstand significant lateral forces that are imparted by the weight ofscreen sections 110, as well as any wind loading in a downward directionwhich also imparts lateral forces on columns 210. The lateral loadinganalysis of the current invention is also described in more detail lateron.

Protective system 10 may generally include canopy or screen system 100,and support system 200 that supports and/or positions screen 100 at thedesired height and location. Support system 200 may include column, poleor support assemblies 210 that are preferably tall enough so that canopy100 is positioned above the vehicles 20 to be protected. For example,columns, supports or poles 210 may be between 8-10 feet tall, thoughother heights are within the scope of the invention. The height orlength of supports 210 may vary depending on the type vehicles or otherinventory to be protected. For example, shorter poles 210 may be usedwhere system 10 protects compact cars, while taller poles 210 may beused where system 10 protects trucks, SUVs and RVs. Furthermore, theheight of support system 200 may vary within one canopy system 10.

Screen or canopy system 100 and support system 200 are preferably strongenough to withstand extreme weather, such as storms coming off the RockyMountains in Colorado, as generally shown in FIGS. 3-5. As explainedbelow, an aspect of the current invention is the strength of thecomponents of system 10 and how these components work together toprovide an overall robust system 10 to withstand extreme weather andprotect vehicles 20.

Canopy or screen system 100, and screen sections 110, are now furtherdescribed with reference to FIGS. 8-12. As noted above, screen system100 may generally comprise one or more screen or canopy sections 110that may be joined together to cover the desired area. Each screensection 110 may comprise a screen or mesh material 112, that may beformed in a desired shape, e.g., in a square. The perimeter of thesquare (or other shape) of mesh material 112 may include a bordermaterial or webbing 114. Webbing 114 may generally extend around theouter perimeter sections of screen or mesh material 112, while webbing116 may generally extend around the interior sections.

Screen 102 may comprise various types of materials, weave patterns andother properties that preferably withstand and/or protects againstvarious weather elements. As noted above, the fabric(s) chosenpreferably withstands hail, snow and wind, as well as prolonged exposureto the sun and ultraviolet rays. The material(s) comprising screen 112preferably lasts several years, though other service durations forscreen 102 are within the scope of the current invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the style of mesh or screen material 112 maybe S800 knotless netting, comprising 12 Gauge Raschel Fabric, 12 NeedlesPer Inch Honeycomb Netting of 11 courses per inch (CPI) or stitches perinch (SPI), with an approximately ¼″×⅜″ mesh Opening. Mesh or netting112 may be various colors, but for example, it may be dyed black fireretardant. The yarns comprising mesh or screen material 112 may be flameretardant polyester, e.g., 85% 1000 Denier Dacron Polyester and 15% 150Denier Dacron Polyester, having a fire retardant finish such as NFPA701. The netting specifications of mesh or screen 112 may have a breakof 180 lbs (warp)/82 lbs (fill), with a single selvedge around itsperimeter to avoid fraying.

As noted above, it is preferred that mesh or screen material 112 includea fire retardant. For the above-referenced embodiment of screen material112, the following flammability test results were obtained. One fabricsample, identified as Style #2586-120, Black Lot #7387, was tested inaccordance with the National Fire Prevention Association No. 701,“standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles andFilms, 2004 Edition, (Test 1, Small Scale)”. The results are as follows:

Specimen Number Residual Flame (seconds) Weight Loss  1 0.0 19.71%  20.0 23.04%  3 0.0 25.79%  4 0.0 15.51%  5 0.0 23.82%  6 0.0 13.57%  70.0 17.05%  8 0.0 25.20%  9 0.0 37.25% 10 0.0 25.81% Average 0.0 23.07%

For the above-described embodiment, the fabric sample tested met theminimum requirements of the above standard. In general, it is preferredthat the average percent weight loss not exceed 40%, the weight loss ofindividual specimens not exceed mean value plus three standarddeviations, and the average residual flame not exceed 2.0 seconds.

In the above-described configuration, mesh or screen material 112 mayhave a yield of about 43.4 square feet/pound and a weight of about 0.023pounds/square foot. However, other mesh or screen materials 112 withdifferent properties may be used within the scope of the currentinvention, and the foregoing is only an example.

For example, screen material 112 may be reinforced using Kevlar or othertypes of fibers that have superior tensile strength. In any event, it ispreferred that mesh material 112 provide significant strength againsthailstorms and other weather elements while still having a relativelight weight. It is also preferred that mesh material 112 exhibitssignificant tensile strength so that it may withstand the tensile forcesit experiences when being strung up between columns 210 and whenwithstanding the force of hailstorms or accumulated snow.

This area coverage to weight ratio is preferred given the significantareas of parking lot 30 that mesh material 112 may be used to cover. Thebenefits of a relative light weight per unit area to be covered isdiscussed in more detail later on in connection with the setup and takedown of protective system 10.

As another example of variations to the above-described mesh properties,the fineness of the mesh, or mesh opening size, may vary. Furthermore,the size of the mesh opening may also vary. For example, the meshopenings may be triangular as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C. Alternatively,the mesh openings may be square or rectangular as shown in FIG. D.

It should be noted that the shape of the mesh openings may varydepending on the tensile load exerted upon the pertinent screen section110 when being attached to columns 210. To this end, the mesh openingsin the six screen sections 110 in FIG. 10D are shown to be relativelysquare due to the tensile force exerted upon them, while the meshopenings in the right-most screen section 110A are generally rectangularbecause less tension is imparted to that section 110A (in order topreserve the space as alley 24 between protective subsystems 10B and 10Cas shown in FIG. 8. It is preferred that screen sections 110 may bemanufactured uniformly to reduce manufacturing costs; as such, againwith reference to FIG. 10D, a particular size screen section 110 maycover a larger area as with screen sections 110 but also cover a smallerarea as with screen section 110A.

Regardless of the mesh opening size and/or shape, it is preferred thatscreen or mesh material 112 is sufficiently fine so that most or many orlarge hailstones do not readily pass through screen 102 and strike theprotected inventory, such as vehicles 20. The current inventionpreferably accounts for an accumulation of hail averaging 2.0″ deep.With the above-mentioned ¼″×⅜″ mesh opening, hail pellets that are ricesized and smaller may shake through the net as the storm progresses andmelting effects take place. Small pellets shaking through the canopy donot pose a damage threat to the vehicles, however, it does affectmaximum load design considerations as fugitive pellets shaking throughthe net could help reduce the load experienced by the canopy.

Screen or mesh 112 also preferably exhibits sufficient strength towithstand the load exerted by certain amounts of snow that mayaccumulate thereon. For example, screen sections 110 may be strongenough to withstand a load of 15 psi.

With the current invention, in the event of a very extreme weatherevent, parts of screen sections 110 with the greatest spans may settledown onto the roofs of a few cars near the middle, similar to a sandbag.The settling process is slow and non-destructive, while also providingadditional load capacity.

The mesh material 112 of the current invention is an advancement overexisting systems which involve a metal mesh screen. This is because thescreen sections 110 of the current invention are more flexible, are lessexpensive and are more easily deployed and/or stored.

As noted above, screen sections 110 preferably includes border 114 thatmay be attached to the perimeter of screen or mesh material 112, asshown in FIGS. 9-12. Border 114 may comprise a webbing material, and mayinclude a plurality of attachments 118, such as loops as shown in thefigures. As an alternative, attachments 118 may comprise grommets orother fastening means. As described in more detail below, attachments118 may accommodate fasteners 254, e.g., carabiners as shown in FIG. 12,and cables 250 that serve to attach screen sections 110 to supportsystem 200.

Borders or webbing 114 may comprise a suitably strong material such asnylon, though other materials may be used. Attachments 118 may comprisethe same material and may be attached to webbing 114 by a sewing orstitching operation or other suitable method. It is preferred thatwebbing 114 and loops 118 withstand the tensile forces that are impartedupon them when screen sections 110 are raised up between columns 210.

As shown in FIG. 11, screen sections 110 may also include beveledcorners 120 in order to accommodate the space needed to secure thecorners of screen section 110 to columns 210. And as shown in FIGS.11-12, canopy or screen system 100 may also include overlap screensections 122 that may span the gap between adjacent screen sections 110that may otherwise exist. Overlap screen sections preferably avoidhailstones from striking vehicles 20 that may otherwise occur if thegaps were to exist. However, overlap sections 110 may be unnecessarywhere vehicles are not parked underneath or very close to such gaps.These aspects of screen system 100 are described more fully below inconnection with support system 200 and the manner in which protectivesystem 10 is erected or taken down.

Support system 200 is now further described with reference to FIGS.2-15, and more particularly to FIGS. 13-15. FIG. 15 is a plan view ofsupport system 200 for protective system 10; and more specifically,shows support subsystems 200A, 200B, 200C, 200D for the protectivesubsystems 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, respectively, as also shown in FIG. 8.Support system 200, and support subsystems 200A-D, generally includesome number of pole, support or column assemblies 210 that are securedin the ground 40 by footing 240. One or more cables 250 are attached tocolumn assemblies 210, and thereby support screen system 100 at thedesired location and height.

Column assemblies 210, and the manner in which they may be secured inthe ground 40, are now further described with reference to FIGS. 15A′,15B′, 15C′, 15D′. As shown, column assembly 210 may comprise pipe,column or pole 230 that may be mounted in the ground 40 and securedthereto by footing 240. The footing depth 242 and footing width 244 mayvary as described later. It is preferred that pipe or column 230 is madeof structural steel and provide sufficient strength to supportprotective system 100. Columns 230 may have a circular or squarecross-section or have some other cross-sectional shape.

For example, columns 230 may comprise pipe steel that is ASTM A53 gradeB with a yield strength of 35 KSI up to 12″ diameter as per AISC. As analternative, round HSS per ASTM A500 with a yield of 42 KSI may also beused. For poles having a diameter of up to 20″, round HSS steel of ASTMA500 grade B with a yield strength of 46 KSI may be used. As anotheralternative, where columns 230 are rectangular, it is preferred that HSSsteel at ASTM A500 grade B with a yield strength of 50 KSI, squaretubing up to 16″. Because columns 230 are exposed to the environment, itis preferred that poles 230 comprise galvanized steel, or are treatedwith a rust-inhibiting primer or some other anti-corrosive coating.

It is preferred that the soil comprising the ground 40 around footing240 is appropriate for securely positioning column assemblies 210, andan engineering study of the soil on which protective system 10 is to beerected may be preferred. To this end, adverse soil condition, standingwater and ground water should be avoided, and the soil surroundingfooting 240 should be of uniform consistency. Pole, support or column230 may be inserted into the ground 40 at the appropriate depth andfooting 240 may be poured.

FIGS. 9-11 show the part of column assembly 210 that is above ground 40.As shown, base 220 may extend around column or pole 230 and may befilled with concrete or other filler 222, thereby serving as a bumper orprotection for pole assembly 210 if it were stricken by a movingvehicle, e.g., a vehicle backing into it. A concrete form may be used toconstruct base 220. The concrete may be reinforced with rebar. After theconcrete or filler has set, base 220 may also include base side shroud224 that extends around or covers the side of concrete or filler 222, aswell as top shroud or cover 226 that may cover the top of base 220. Topshroud 226 preferably prevents rain and other weather elements fromentering base 220.

The upper region of column or pole assembly 210 is now described withreference to FIGS. 13-14 and 16. As shown, one or more lug plates,brackets or flanges 232 may be attached at or near the top of pole 230.It is preferred that lug plates 232 are welded to pole or column 230,though other suitable attachment means may be used. Lug plates orflanges 232 may include hole 234 to accommodate the hardware associatedwith turnbuckle 256 or shackle 258. The top of pole or column 230 may becovered by cap 236, which preferably prevents rain and other weatherelements from entering pole 230.

The components between pole assemblies 210 and screen sections 110 arenow further described with reference to FIGS. 12-14. Cable 250 mayinclude eyelets 252 at its ends which may engage shackles 256 orturnbuckles 258, which in turn allow cables 250 to be attached to poleassemblies 210. In general, only one end of cable 250 need be attachedto turnbuckle 258 in order to allow the cable tension to be adjusted bytightening turnbuckle 258, and thereby raising screen section 110.However, both ends may include turnbuckles 258 to allow adjustment atboth ends. As shown in FIGS. 13-14, a combination of shackles 256 andturnbuckles 258 may be used to connect various cables 250 to pole 230.

As described previously, cable 250 may be positioned through a number ofquick links or fasteners 254 along a side of screen section 110 as shownin FIG. 12 (with fasteners 254 being connected to loops 118). Cable 250may comprise stainless steel. Cable end eyelets 252 may also be attachedto shackle 256 and/or turnbuckle 258. These hardware items may comprisestainless steel. With the foregoing attachments in place, shackle 256and/or turnbuckle 258 may be attached to two pole assemblies 210, ormore specifically, they may be attached to holes 234 in lug plates 232that are welded to poles 230. When the ends of cable 250 are connectedto pole assemblies 210, turnbuckle(s) 258 may be tightened, therebyraising screen section 110.

An advantage of the current invention is that preferably avoids the needfor structural elements, like beams or other rigid elements, as are usedin other existing systems.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 12 and 15, cable 250 may pass through a seriesof fasteners 254 that are connected to adjacent screen sections 110. Inthis manner, tightening cable 250 via turnbuckle(s) 258 may serve toraise two screen sections 110. In this situation, overlap screen 122 maybe attached to adjacent screen sections 110 to cover any gap.

As shown in the figures, any number of cables 250 may be connected topole assembly 230 to support one or more screen sections 110. Inaddition to cables 250 that extend along a side of a screen section,additional cables 250 may extend diagonally across the mesh material 112of a given screen section 110 to provide further support.

The positioning of pole or column assemblies 210 and their associatedproperties are now further described with reference to FIGS. 15, 15A-Dand 15A′-D′. As shown in FIG. 15, pole or column assemblies 210 may bepositioned as corner poles 212, edge poles 214 or middle poles 216. Astheir names imply, corner poles 212 are positioned at the corners ofscreen subsystems 10A-10D; edge poles 214 are positioned along theiredges between the corners; and middle poles 216 are positioned withintheir interior.

An advantage of system 10 of the current invention is that it preferablyinvolves fewer column assemblies 210 than other existing systems. Thisis an advantage because it decreases the cost of system 10, makes itsinstallation easier and poses less of an imposition to the parking lotor other location where system 10 is installed.

An aspect of the current invention is the design of pole assemblies 210at these different locations, taking into account the different forcesthey may encounter. To this end, the locations and characteristics ofthe pole assemblies 210 are preferably designed to withstand the lateralforces exerted on pole assemblies 210 in the XY plane due to the weightof screen sections 110, as well as the downward wind force that may beexerted on screen sections 110. In connection with designing andinstalling the current invention at various locations, a finite elementanalysis or other analysis may be performed. This analysis may take intoaccount the local weather conditions that are associated with aparticular location for system 10, e.g., winds loads, volume of hailthat falls during hailstorms, etc. This analysis may also take intoaccount local permitting or building code requirements of the city orother location at which the system 10 is being installed. As such, thecharacteristics of system 10 may be designed to optimize the protectionagainst local weather conditions and to address local buildingrequirements.

In light of a finite element or other analysis, the configuration ofpole assemblies 210, e.g., pole diameter, footing depth, etc., may varydepending on their location, distance from adjacent pole assemblies 210,size of the screen section 110 and other factors. As a result of thisanalysis, preferred embodiments of pole assemblies 210 according to theshape and size of the protective system 10 (or subsystem 10A-10D) theysupport, as well as their location therein, are now described. It shouldbe noted that any dimensions or properties noted below are for examplepurposes only, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto.Instead, the current invention includes any and all dimensions andproperties of pole assemblies 210 that exhibit sufficient properties tosuspend screen or canopy system 100, or screen sections 110, in place.

The configurations of pole assemblies 210 supporting protectivesubsystem 10A are now described with reference to FIGS. 15A and 15A′.FIG. 15A shows the locations of corners pole assemblies 212, edge poleassembles 214 and middle (or interior) pole assemblies 216. As shown inFIG. 15A′, poles 230 may extend 10′ above the ground 40. Poles 230 forcorner and edge pole assembly locations 212, 214 may have a 10″ diameterand wall thickness of 0.365″ while poles 230 for middle pole assembly216 may have an 8″ diameter and wall thickness of 0.322″. Other poledimensions may be used, e.g., 12″ diameter; the scope of the currentinvention extends to all pole designs for use in particular systems 10.For footing 240, the footing depth may vary to address the differentforces exerted on pole assemblies 210 at different locations. Forexample, footing depth 242 may be 7′9″ for corner poles 212, 9′1″ foredge poles 214 and 5′1″ for middle poles 216. In general the bottom ofpoles 230 extend below the ground 40 by a length that brings them toabout 6″ from the bottom of footing depth 242. Generally, the footingdiameter 244 may be about 3′. However, other footing characteristics maybe used within the scope of the current invention.

The configurations of corner, edge and middle pole assemblies 212, 214,216 supporting protective subsystem 10B are similarly described in FIGS.15B and 15B′.

The configurations of corner, edge and middle pole assemblies 212, 214,216 supporting protective subsystem 10C are similarly described withreference to FIGS. 15C and 15C′.

The configurations of corner, edge and middle pole assemblies 212, 214,216 supporting protective subsystem 10D are similarly described withreference to FIGS. 15D and 15D′.

One or more pole assemblies 210 may extend further up and include alighting assembly such as those typically seen in parking lots, securitycameras or other items. In these embodiments, it is preferred that poleassembly 210 include the necessary electrical, fiber optic or otherutilities to support these functions.

While the above-referenced poles 230 are described as fixed heightpiping or other tubing, in other embodiments, poles 230 may beadjustable in height. In these other embodiments, poles 230 may reflecta telescoping design.

While the above-referenced poles 230 are described as being sunk infooting 240, other types of pole assemblies 210 may be used with thecurrent invention. For example, footing 240 or some other type ofsubterranean anchoring component may be installed in ground 40, so thatits top is flush with, or extends above, the ground 40. In thisembodiment, the anchoring component may include a bracket or other typeof device to which the bottom of pole 230 may be attached. The anchoringcomponent may extend above the surface of ground 40. Alternatively, thetop of footing 240 may be flush with ground 40, but the anchoringcomponent may be recessed below the top surface of footing 240, so thatif poles 230 are removed, the remaining parts of support system 200,i.e., footing 240 and associated anchoring component, are flush withground 40. In this manner, when poles 230 are removed, the remainder ofsupport system 200 is still flush with ground 40, which would allow,e.g., parking lot 22 to have no obstacles to drive around.

Various types of attachments may be used in this embodiment, e.g.,male/female brackets, flange with hole and bolt, cup mounted on top offooting 240 which is dimensioned to receive the outer diameter or otherouter configuration of the bottom of pole 230 or post extending from thetop of footing 240 which is dimensioned to engage the inner diameter orother inner configuration of the bottom of pole 230. Other attachmentmechanisms may be used within the scope of the invention.

In other embodiments of the current invention, pole assemblies 210 maysimply rest on the ground 40 where the weight of canopy or screen 100,and the tension or lateral stability between poles 210 that screen 100creates, may serve to hold pole assemblies 210 in place. But foradditional stability, in this embodiment, pole assemblies may be securedto the ground 40 by stakes, cables or other means. These embodiments maybe particularly suitable for smaller-scale systems 10, such as thoseinstalled over a residence driveway as discussed later.

As described below, the canopy or screen system 100 of protective system10 may be taken down when desired, e.g., for the winter months when thechances of hailstorms and other types of weather decrease, and thechances of significant snow drifts accumulating on system 10 increase.To this end, screen sections 110 may be manually retracted. Because snowand snow drifts on various types of inventory, such as vehicles,generally do not damage them; and because snow drifts accumulating onscreen system 100 may result in significant weight and create forcesbeyond its design limits, it is preferred that screen system 100 may bereadily taken down during certain times of the year, or when otherwisedesired. Indeed, designing screen system 100 to accommodate potentiallythousands of pounds of accumulated snow could or would increase materialcost unnecessarily.

Whether screen system 100 is taken down periodically may generallydepend on where protective system 10 is located. In the Denver, Colo.area, for example, winters may involve significant snowstorms from theRocky Mountains, so it may be preferred to take down screen system 100for the winter. In other “hail alley” locations, such as Texas orsouthern Texas, where significant snow drifts may not necessarilyaccumulate, it may be desired that screen system 100 remain in placeyear round. And regardless of location and prevailing weather patterns,it may be desirable to take down screen system 100, e.g., whereprotective canopy or screen system 10 is intended to be temporary.

The protective system 10 may be installed in the springtime (to coverthe vehicles during hail season), and removed in the fall (before thesnowy season begins). In a preferred embodiment, system 10 mayaccommodate a snow load of 30 psf of snow, so most out-of-seasonsnowstorms are not a concern.

In preparation for winter, the canopy sections 110 may be removed androlled up in sausage like bundles that are about 24 inches in diameter.Each bundle may include one 60 foot wide panel section.

The manual retraction process of screen sections 110 may be completedwith a crew of several workers, a scissor lift and a pair of ladders.Roughly two acres of canopy may be retracted in a standard work day withthe foregoing resources. For a proposed design of approximately 4.00acres (177,900 sq. ft.) in area, retraction may be completed intwo-three work days if two work crews are dispatched.

A benefit of protective system 10 is that the extension/retractionprocess may be completed with minimal need to move the vehicles 20underneath, thereby minimizing site downtime and man hours lost. Theonly items that must be stored are the screen sections or netting panels110 during the winter months.

Protective system 10 is preferably strong enough to resist almost allhailstorms. If an unseasonably late or early snow occurs, the snowmanagement options depend on the depth of snow, where light snows (lessthan 4″) may be left to melt away; and heavier snows may be removed byunhooking one side of the fabric to allow the snow to fall out. If snowsdeeper than about 8″ are forecasted, it is preferred that screensections 110 be taken down.

The design of the current invention facilitates an efficient taking downof screen system 100. To that end, the use of quick links or carabinersor other type of readily removable fastener 254 readily allow removal ofscreen sections 110 from cables 250. Turnbuckles 258 may also beloosened so that there is slack in cables 250 between column assemblies210 to also facilitate removal of screen sections 110 from cables 250.In some embodiments, pole assembles 210 may remain installed in theground. But because the design of the current invention permits fewerpole assemblies 210 to be used than other systems, the fact that poleassemblies 210 may remain installed preferably does not impede use ofthe area that had been covered.

The current invention also addresses situations where it is desirable toremove column assemblies 210 (and/or other components of support system200). This may occur, for example, where protective or canopy system 10is installed on a parking lot 22, and it is desired to remove system 10so that the entire parking lot 22 may be driven on. In this situation,the above-described embodiments where poles 230 may be removed fromsubterranean footing 240 may be preferred. But as noted above, evenwhere pole assemblies 210 remain installed when screen system 100 istaken down, it is preferred that the remaining pole assemblies 210 donot significantly impede use of the area that had been covered.

With the configuration described above, it is preferred that canopysystem 10 is strong enough to resist and/or protect against varioustypes of weather elements that would otherwise damage the vehicles 20 orother items being protected. For example, it is preferred that canopysystem 10 resists most types of hailstorms that can damage a fleet ofexposed vehicles 20. As an example, canopy system 10 preferablywithstands hail loads of about 2″ hail depth. However, other levels ofprotection against hail are within the scope of the invention.

In connection with designing a particular canopy system 10 for aparticular location, screen or mesh material 112 may be tested so thatscreen system 100 provides sufficient protection for the particularlocation. For example, mesh material 112 may be tested by droppingweights representative of hailstones from distances to simulatehailstorms.

Canopy system 10 also preferably withstands hailstorms or snow stormsand accumulations of ice and/or snow. For example, in certainembodiments, system 10 may withstand snow loads of up to about 30″ ofpowder snow. However, other levels of protection against snow are withinthe scope of the invention. Where ice and/or snow accumulate on system10, and screen sections 110 sag due to the weight, it is preferred thatthe mesh material 112 is sufficiently strong so that any sag occursgradually. In this manner, if the amount of sag is large enough thatmesh material 112 contacts the vehicles or other items being protected,any contact would be gradual and not sudden, i.e., any contact would notbe similar to an impact that may cause damage to the items beingprotected.

The ability of canopy system 10 to withstand hail and snow alsopreferably allows it to withstand and/or protect against variable windloads. For example, system 10 may withstand winds loads of up to about100 mph. However, other levels of protection against wind speeds arewithin the scope of the invention. As noted above, the amount of windloading that may occur at a particular location due to prevailing localweather conditions, and/or the factor of safety that may be required bylocal building codes, may be taken into account when designing andinstalling system 10 at a particular location.

The installation and disassembling of protective system 10 is nowfurther described. The actual installation of system 10 may be precededby a design and/or approval process. System 10 may be installed asfollows.

The column assemblies 210 may be installed at the desired locations.Cables 250 may be strung up between column assemblies 210, e.g., in theXY directions, and diagonally. At this point, cables 250 may beinitially strung up with some amount of sag, and cables 250 may betightened later on as described above. A forklift or scissor lift may beused to assist.

Screen section 110 may be laid out on the ground with fasteners or quicklinks 254 attached to successive loops 118. Screen section 110 may belifted into place and quick links 254 may engage a cable 250 in aninitial X/Y direction. Screen section 110 may be lifted over anydiagonally extending cables 250 and stretched to the remaining X/Ydirection cables 250. All sides of screen section 110 may pulled tightand so that quick links or other fastener 254 may engage the remainingcables 250. The foregoing may be repeated for each screen section 110 ofsystem 10 to be installed. Flaps or gap-filler screen sections 122 maybe installed to cover any gaps between main screen sections 110. Flaps122 may be connected to main screen sections by suitable means, e.g.,zip-ties, additional quick links or other fasteners. Where desired, sidepanels that extend downward from main horizontal screen sections 110 maybe installed to protect from hail coming in from the side.

Canopy system 10 may be taken down as follows. In general, the reverseof the foregoing steps may be performed. In some of the foregoingembodiments, only column assemblies 210 may remain.

The manner in which screen sections 110 may be stored is now furtherdescribed. Screen section 110 may be disengaged from three of its foursides, and then it may be folded up, or retracted in an accordion mannerup to and around the remaining perimeter cable 250. A cover may then beinstalled around the bunched-up netting while being stored.

Alternatively, an automated retraction device may be used, where one ofthe perimeter sides of a screen section is attached to the spindle of aretraction machine. The other three sides are disengaged from theirrespective cables, and the retraction machine may draw in the nettingaround its spindle.

During the winter months, when the likelihood of hailstorms decreases,and the likelihood of significant snow accumulations increases,protective system 10 may be taken down, or the screen sections 110 maybe retracted. This is preferred because when hail damage is not athreat, there is generally little or no need to have a covering overvehicles 20 on which significant amounts of snow may accumulate. Indeed,snow accumulating on vehicles 20 themselves poses little or no threat ofdamage. And if protective system 20 were left intact throughout thewinter months, it would likely be that screen system 100 and mesh orscreen material 112 would need to comprise stronger materials to avoidbreaking. However, because the cost of mesh or screen material 112generally increases with its strength, a year-round protective system 10would generally be more expensive. And this extra expense wouldgenerally be unnecessary. In view of the foregoing, it is preferred thatprotective system 10, or the screen sections 110, may be quickly andefficiently taken down for the winter months.

Other embodiments are now described with reference to FIGS. 17-18. FIG.17 shows an embodiment where system 10 may extend from a building orother structure 300. In this embodiment, screen section 110 may beattached or otherwise engaged to structure 300, and also attached tocables 250. FIG. 18 shows an embodiment where system 10 may be installedover a driveway 400 or other location at a private residence or othersmaller-scale installation. In this embodiment, pole assemblies 210 maynot necessarily involve concrete footing because the overall dimensionsof system 10 may be much smaller and thus not require the stabilityprovided by footing. As noted above, in this embodiment, guidelines 402and/or stakes 404 may help secure system 10 to the ground.

The current invention has been described above with a focus on aprotective canopy to be installed to protect a fleet of vehicles.However, it bears reiteration that protective system 10 may be used toprotect any type of items or inventory or individuals or groups ofpeople against hailstorms and/or other severe weather elements.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective canopy system, comprising: a screensystem; and a support system.
 2. The protective canopy system of claim1, wherein the screen system includes a mesh material, a borderextending around the periphery of the mesh material and loops; andwherein the support system includes column assemblies that are mountedto the ground, cables that extend between the column assemblies, andfasteners that connect the cables and the loops.
 3. The protectivecanopy system of claim 2, wherein the column assemblies include a polethat extends into the ground and footing that secures the pole in theground.